Systems and methods of fluid operated concealed sprinklers within closed cavities

Abstract

A concealed sprinkler can include a body that defines an outlet, a seal that seals the outlet, an activation element coupled with the seal, a housing, a cover plate, and a wall. The activation element changes from a first state to a second state responsive to a fire condition to allow the seal to be displaced from the outlet. The housing extends from a first housing end that extends from the body to a second housing end, and defines a chamber around the activation element. The cover plate is coupled with the second housing end. The wall extends towards the activation element to form an air flow channel to the activation element adjacent to the wall. At least one of the cover plate and the wall are removably coupled with the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A concealed sprinkler, comprising:
 a body that defines an outlet;   a seal that seals the outlet;   an activation element coupled with the seal, the activation element changes from a first state to a second state responsive to a fire condition to allow the seal to be displaced from the outlet;   a housing extending from a first housing end that extends from the body to a second housing end, the hosing defines a chamber around the activation element;   a cover plate coupled with the second housing end; and   a wall that extends from the cover plate towards the activation element to form an air flow channel to the activation element adjacent to the wall, at least one of the retaining ring, the cover plate, and the wall removably coupled with the body.   
     
     
         2 . The concealed sprinkler of  claim 1 , comprising:
 the wall includes at least one of a ramp, a baffle, a fin, and a vent.   
     
     
         3 . The concealed sprinkler of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an assembly comprising at least one of a retaining ring, the cover plate, and the wall, the assembly is removably coupled with the body.   
     
     
         4 . The concealed sprinkler of  claim 1 , comprising:
 the cover plate defines a gap from the cover plate to at least one of the second housing end and a ceiling structure in which the housing is installed, the cover plate defines a distance from the cover to the activation element.   
     
     
         5 . The concealed sprinkler of  claim 1 , comprising:
 the cover plate is attached to a retaining ring by at least one of solder, a fastener, a tab, a crimp, and an adhesive.   
     
     
         6 . The concealed sprinkler of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a retaining ring integrally formed as one or more tabs of the wall to removably attach the cover plate with the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The concealed sprinkler of  claim 1 , comprising:
 the body defines a fluid passageway extending from an inlet to the outlet and a sprinkler axis extending through the inlet and the outlet;   the first housing end comprises an end wall that extends transverse to the sprinkler axis, the end wall defines a single opening, the single opening around the sprinkler axis.   
     
     
         8 . The concealed sprinkler of  claim 1 , comprising:
 the activation element comprises at least one of a bulb and a plurality of levers coupled with the seal and a plurality of fusible links bonded to the plurality of levers.   
     
     
         9 . The concealed sprinkler of  claim 1 , comprising:
 the housing comprises a sprinkler cup, the cover plate removably coupled with the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The concealed sprinkler of  claim 1 , comprising:
 the wall comprises a portion that decreases in diameter from the cover plate towards the activation element.   
     
     
         11 . A sprinkler system, comprising:
 a building structure that defines a cavity; and   a sprinkler, comprising:
 a body that defines an inlet coupled with one or more pipes and an outlet coupled with the inlet; 
 a seal that seals the outlet to prevent fluid from the one or more pipes from flowing through the outlet; 
 an activation element coupled with the seal, the activation element changes from a first state to a second state to allow the fluid to flow through the outlet; 
 a housing coupled with the body and positioned in the cavity, the housing defines a chamber around the activation element; 
   a cover plate coupled with the housing; and   a wall that extends from the cover plate towards the activation element to form an air flow channel to the activation element along the wall, at least one of the cover plate and the wall are removably coupled with the body.   
     
     
         12 . The sprinkler system of  claim 11 , comprising:
 the wall includes at least one of a ramp, a baffle, a fin, and a vent.   
     
     
         13 . The sprinkler system of  claim 11 , comprising:
 the housing comprises a sprinkler cup; and   an assembly comprising at least one of a retaining ring, the cover plate, and the wall, the assembly removably coupled with at least one of the sprinkler cup and a sprinkler box in the cavity.   
     
     
         14 . The sprinkler system of  claim 11 , comprising:
 the cover plate defines a gap from the cover plate to at least one of the housing and a ceiling of the building structure in which the housing is installed, the cover plate defines a distance from the cover to the activation element, a ratio of the distance to the gap is greater than or equal to 1:2 and less than or equal to 2:1.   
     
     
         15 . The sprinkler system of  claim 11 , comprising:
 the cover plate is attached to the housing by at least one of solder, a fastener, a tab, a crimp, and an adhesive.   
     
     
         16 . The sprinkler system of  claim 11 , comprising:
 a retaining ring that removably attaches the cover plate to the housing.   
     
     
         17 . The sprinkler system of  claim 11 , comprising:
 the body defines a fluid passageway extending from an inlet to the outlet and a sprinkler axis extending through the inlet and the outlet;   the housing comprises an end wall that extends transverse to the sprinkler axis, the end wall defines a single opening, the single opening around the sprinkler axis.   
     
     
         18 . The sprinkler system of  claim 11 , comprising:
 the activation element comprises at least one of a bulb and a plurality of levers coupled with the seal and a plurality of fusible links bonded to the plurality of levers.   
     
     
         19 . The sprinkler system of  claim 11 , comprising:
 an assembly comprising at least one of a retaining ring, the cover plate, and the wall, the assembly is removably coupled with the body.   
     
     
         20 . The sprinkler system of  claim 11 , comprising:
 the wall comprises a portion that decreases in diameter from the cover plate towards the activation element.